Disclaimer: If I owned Death Note, there'd be yaoi everywhere. Kemino and Leah aren't mine, if you still think they are, (which you shoulder) Tyler will come after you. (She knows where you sleep.) Max and the plot belongs to me.
May 3, 2026
I was getting nowhere. There's been no real news about Kira. Hopefully Dad was having more luck than me; he was getting information on where and who Kira was. All the information that I wanted and needed, even though I knew that it was Light.
Things have gotten more… intense, I think is the best word. Dad and Mr. Aizawa are never seen at home (the other NPA members had to go back to Japan.) and most of the time Mom is with them. When Mom is home, she never says anything. A few times I hear her talking about Gevanni and Rester (who are former SPK members, along with Linder, under Dad's command.) The only things that makes Mom come home is me and to make food for the others. Oh, and Leah's still here.
I'll admit that I've been stubborn, but I can't ask her for help. She knows I have a Death Note and Ryuk. If I go and ask her for help, she might think that I'm doing something Kira-like. I've been avoiding her for a few months by going into town, trying to listen out for clues. I'm sure she's told Mom, but I haven't been home long enough for Mom to talk to me.
I was sitting on a counter in the kitchen, Ryuk was in the air with an apple, and Leah was somewhere in the house. We were, once again, home by ourselves. It was only about 12:15 and nothing was happening. I had a small T.V. on the news and there wasn't anything important; Kira was still killing people.
I sigh. "Officials can't find shit."
Ryuk laughed. "Of course not. L's on the case so they don't have to do anything."
"Lazy sods." I get off the counter and go to turn off the T.V.
"I relevance to Kira, the President of the United States is going to express his feelings about this matter. Coming up at 1."
"Uh-oh," Leah's voice said, "this can't be good." "I turn and see her in the doorway of the kitchen. She looked at me, as if I was questioning her. "You know what happened last time."
"Yeah, I do." The president back in 2009 gave in to Kira. Seeing that this is a totally different one, hopefully this one won't. It's hardly been four months since Kira came back; it's too early to give in. I had tried to get Ryuk to go to the Shinigami Realm to look for information about the Shinigami that brought Light back, but he couldn't unless I gave up ownership, or died.
Leah went to the fridge and got out a bottle of water as I turned the T.V. off.
"You're not going to watch?" she asked.
"I will," I say, "I'm just going to find something to do in the meantime."
"You're not going to find anything."
I look at her with a flare as she took a drink. "What do you mean?"
"Max, I know that you've been trying to find Kira by using public news, it's not going to work. Near's getting…"
"Everything that has to do with Kira. You don't think I know that, Leah?" I cut her off. "And I don't need to find Kira, I just have to stop him."
"And how are you going to do that? Using the Death Note?" She glared at me; her new mood going along with her long, black dress. "You're lucky that I haven't told Kemino," she muttered.
"It's a little hard to kill something that isn't truly living, don't you think so?"
Leah stared at me like I was crazy. "What are you saying Max?"
What was I saying? I just basically told her that Light is Kira, though she didn't seem to believe me. Truly, I really wanted to tell her everything now, I just started to. But she's Light's daughter. How do I know if he knows that and if he contacted her and got her on his side? I sigh. But I really wanted my parents home again; I wanted everything to be like before Kira. I wanted to have my Mom play the piano and randomly burst out in song. I wanted to have Dad be there and tell her that she's still a child, but with a laugh.
"Max?"
Leah's voice brought me out of my thoughts. I blink, my eyes watery. "Leah, I want to know if truly trust you."
She gave a laugh after a short silence. "Is that what's been up your arse the last few months?"
"More or less," I shrug.
"I should be the one asking you that, Ms. I-have-a-Death-Note." She smiled. "Of course you can trust me. After all, I haven't told Near or Kemino about the notebook or Ryuk."
"How do you know it's Ryuk?"
"The random flying apples in the middle of the night and you like to yell at him."
Well… that was a good point. "When the time comes Leah," I say, "I'm going to need you to listen and do what I tell you to."
"No problem," Leah said.
"Even if it involves writing in the Death Note?" She thought for a minute before nodding. "Good," I say more to myself, "now it all depends on what the president says." I began to leave.
"Where are you going?" Leah asked.
"To relax and ask for some advice." She knew what I meant.
1111
The three of us were sitting on the couch, watching the T.V. in the living room. Well, Leah and I were sitting, Ryuk was standing behind us. Leah was asking Ryuk all sorts of questions, I was telling her his answers because I haven't let her touch the Death/Life Note. We were waiting for the president to get on.
Soon, he was there saying his speech. I could tell he was stalling. Leah could too, because she said, "Get to the point already," at the T.V.
"Now, what I'm going to say next is because I have the fate of the world in mind. Kira has the power to kill whomever, including world leaders, if they get in his way. If that happens, countries will go into panic and become all hell. I'm trying to set an example for all countries: The United States will not do anything to pursue Kira."
"What?!" both Leah and I exclaim. Reporters started to hammer him with questions.
"Please, this is all for the safety of everyone!"
"Cowards!" I yell. Leah turned off the T.V. "You're not even doing anything, yet you give in? That's what he wants!"
"Fear's a powerful weapon," Leah said.
I growl to myself as I left the living room. I leaned against the wall in the hallway, trying to think. This was what I didn't want to have happen, even though this was going to end everything sooner. Jus half-an-hour ago, I was at the graves, thinking of my next move. What would L or Mello do in my place? I don't know if coming back to the same answer was a good thing. Soon, Kira will be part of every day life and we were expected to let it happen. Near's daughter, me, who is part of the line of L, is supposed to let it happen? I don't think so. Now the question was when should I move? From the president's announcement, Kira may feel safe, but Light has gone up against Dad before. He might be waiting for me to do something.
I started to head towards Dad's study. If I was going to do something, I should have all the information about the situation. This game of Life and Death was nothing more than a giant game of chess with high stakes. At least, that's what I tried to convince myself as I closed the door.
1111
Still nothing.
Kemino was getting annoyed. They weren't finding anything on Kira. It reminded her too much of her time with L. She turned away from Near and Aizawa and took out her Ipod. She might as well try to think. She listened to her favorite songs, hopping an idea would come soon. As she was flipping through, she found something new. It was titled "Dear Kemino." That's odd, I don't remember this.
She was about to listen to it when her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Taking it out, she looked at it. She turned to Near. "Near, someone's hacking into your computer." Aizawa and Near looked at her, more or less shocked. "And they're at your computer. It's either Leah, Max, or someone broke into our house. I'm calling Max now." She, herself, was also shocked. Why would either Max or Leah hack into Near's computer? And how would anyone get in without them noticing?
The phone ranged three times before Max answered, "Yes Mom?"
"Hi honey," Kemino said, "Is everything ok?"
"Yes, just fine."
"What are you guys doing?" She shoved Aizawa away from the computer he was on, remembering that Near had camera's in his study.
"Watching T.V," Max said, as if choosing her words carefully. "Why?"
"Kemino," Near said, but Kemino ignored him.
"No reason, I was just checking up on you." She connected to the cameras and Near's study appeared on the computer screen.
Sitting in the chair, a cell phone held to their ear, was Max. She had a look on her face that showed that she knew she was caught and she was biting her bottom lip. "Max what are you…" Kemino was caught off from the sight of something black. She started to tremble as she saw the Shinigami looming over her daughter. No… No, not Max. It can't be Max! This can't be happening.
"Cameras," Max muttered under her breath.
"Hyuk, hyuk. Looks like Mommy caught you," Ryuk laughed.
"Ryuk? No way!" Aizawa said, staring in disbelief at the screen.
"Max, please tell me I'm not seeing this," Kemino said, her eyes watering.
Max was silent, the picture of her on the computer frozen. Her dark eyes darted around the room; she was trying to think of her way out of this. She hung up the phone and ran out of the room.
Kemino was frozen. She couldn't believe it. Max, her own daughter, had a Death Note. But that didn't mean she was Kira, right? She turned to her husband; the look on his face was blank. "She's not Kira though…" Near looked at her with apologetic eyes. "No. Just… No. Near you can't seriously think…!"
"We just got this," Near said, showing Kemino a suicide letter from a recent Kira victim. He points at a pattern of words and letters. "Having fun with the new game? Let's make it more fun. I'm closer than you think." Kemino shook her head. "Kemino…" He paused, turning to Aizawa. "We're going."
1111
Dammit! I should have known that Dad would have some sort of alarm on his computer. And to make things worse, there were cameras! They saw Ryuk, they know I have the notebook. They thought I was Kira. Right before Mom called, I saw a note that was just received. Light was framing me. He wanted them to find me.
"What are you going to do, Max?" Ryuk asked, following behind me as I ran to my room.
'I don't know,' I wanted to scream. I wasn't Kira, but now my parents think I am. They'll going to rush back here to arrest me. And then Light will win. Wait, I never wrote anything in the Death Note! I get the notebook out of my desk. Grinding my teeth, I open it. I knew it. Light wanted everything to point to me. Written in the pages were countless names, everyone that was killed by Kira.
"Dammit!" I shout, letting out some frustration. Now what was I going to do? I don't have anything to prove my innocence!
"Max?" Leah asked, appearing in the doorway. "What's wrong?" I looked at her; she could tell I was panicking. I looked at her and then at the notebook. It's now or never.
"We're leaving," I say, running out and dragging her along.
"Wait, Max!" Leah said, trying not to trip. "What's going on?" I don't answer and continue running. We make it to the garage when I heard a siren coming close. Of course they'd want to get here as fast as possible posing as a police car was perfect. I hear the front door open. I take this time to catch my breath. Mom calls out my name and I hear footsteps.
"Max," Leah said, her voice demanding an answer.
"Shh!" I give her the Death/Life Note, a big chance. "Don't let go of it." Moving quickly, I drag her in the garage and get two helmets. I scan the shelves and find Mom's keys for her motorcycle. I hand Leah a helmet. "Put it on," I say, putting my own on. I get on the motorcycle and put the keys in. I turn and look at Leah. She was standing there with the notebook in one hand and the helmet in another. "I'll explain later, just get on Leah!"
"Maxine River!" Dad's voice boomed. Leah looked at the door before putting the helmet on and jumping on the bike. I open the garage door with the remote on the keys and turned the bike on.
Adrenaline was pumping through me. It seemed hours before the door was even half way. I revved the engine and Leah held on tightly. Over the engine, I could faintly hear the door open and Mom calling my name. I hit the gas and the bike ran out of the garage.
Thanks for the reviews, I really mean it when I say they make me feel loved. Tyler also says thanks cause she helped out and technically Max would even be born without Kemino, who belongs to her. Again, I appreciate those that continue reviewing every chapter, thanks for keeping with the story. Keep clicking that button!!!